Comments on: EXTRA Supervisors Hear Intense Opposition to Rezoning

By: Roberta Kellam

Roberta Kellam — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 15:15:57 +0000

Please allow me to provide, in its entirety, correspondence that I received from the Executive Director of the Virginia Shellfish Growers Association, related to the Economic Impact of the aquaculture industry on the Eastern Shore. It should be noted that jobs in the aquaculture industry are a good match for the County workforce, and seafood in general has excellent potential for vertical expansion.

The proposed County-wide Rezoning, if adopted (even with the proposed “consensus” changes), would have a significant negative impact on the aquaculture industry by: (1) greatly reducing the minimum shoreline lot width, which allows high density development on the waterfront and a substantial increase in the amount of docks that would impede aquaculture operations (for more information, please visit the National Working Waterfront Network online); (2) setting the stage to eliminate the water quality protections of the Bay Act on the seaside; and (3) cumulative impacts on water quality from high density population and boating increases in the watershed, among numerous other administrative details that impact all of us.

An important point to remember is that the Aquaculture Industry success depends upon the success of the hatcheries, and success of the hatcheries depends on water quality!

Here is the letter, dated Sept. 18, 2012:

Dear Ms. Kellam,
On September 11, 2012, a joint meeting of the Northampton County Planning Commission and the County’s Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee (CPAC) occurred. During the course of that meeting, some misconceptions regarding shellfish aquaculture were expressed. In particular, shellfish aquaculture was characterized as providing no economic benefit to the County, primarily because shellfish aquaculture does not contribute to property taxes or pay sales tax on the shellfish produced. This statement totally ignores the very substantial indirect economic contributions made to the County. These amounts have actually been calculated by personnel at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and were presented to the Northampton County Board of Supervisors on February 8, 2011. I’d like to refresh your memories and highlight the economic importance of shellfish aquaculture to Northampton County.

Any “business” will generate direct and indirect economic impacts from their activity. Direct impacts are fairly easy to understand; these are the result of sales of products. For instance, in 2011 the hard clam aquaculture industry generated approximately $26 million in farm-gate sales, with direct employment of 144 full-time and 46 part-time jobs (Murray, T.J. and K. Hudson. 2012. Virginia Shellfish Aquaculture Situation and Outlook Report – Results of 2011 Virginia Shellfish Aquaculture Crop Reporting Survey. Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Marine Resource Report No. 2012-04, 20 pp.). Northampton County is the location for a great majority of hard clam aquaculture in Virginia and, thus, a major benefactor from these sales. However, in addition to this direct impact, employees within the hard clam culture industry generate economic activity when they spend their income on housing, food, and other goods and services. These indirect economic impacts extend into the local community. This further expands and generates economic activity for suppliers, accountants, etc. whose employment supports the operation of retail enterprises. Essentially, the activities of the shellfish aquaculture industry will generate multiple rounds of economic activity, including non-clam aquaculture industry sectors such as retail trades, eating and drinking establishments, banking, hospitals, real estate, and more.

These same direct and indirect economic impacts are generated by the rapidly expanding oyster aquaculture industry within Northampton County.

At the February 8, 2011, Northampton County Board of Supervisors meeting, Thomas J. Murray, a marine business specialist with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, presented an overview of the economic activity associated with clam and oyster aquaculture on the Eastern Shore. His presentation is a matter of record. I would, however, like to highlight some of the information that Mr. Murray presented to the Supervisors. Mr. Murray’s report was an update, using data from 2009-2010, of a comprehensive study done in 2004 (Murray, T.J. and J.E. Kirkley. 2005. Economic Activity Associated With Clam Aquaculture in Virginia – 2004. Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Marine Resource Report No. 2005-05, 21 pp.). In his report, Mr. Murray stated that the initial sales of farm-raised hard clams and clam seed generated a direct impact on local economic output of an estimated $30.5 million in 2010. The total direct employment associated with these hard clam farm sales was estimated to be 380 in 2009. Personal income associated with these initial clam aquaculture sales was $9.2 million in 2009. When taken together the economic impacts resulting from hard clam aquaculture during 2009 resulted in overall increases in: economic output of $50.3 million; added employment of over 600 individuals, yielding an overall increase in personal labor incomes of over $15.0 million throughout the State. During 2009 over 7 million aquaculture oysters were produced on the Eastern Shore, yielding $1.82 million in additional farm revenue, with an expectation that this would more than double in 2010. Taken together, the total economic impact of Eastern Shore hard clam and oyster aquaculture in 2009 was an output of $54.4 million, generated employment of 620 individuals, and an income of $16.0 million.

Just because shellfish aquaculture may not pay property or sales taxes does not mean that it does not contribute to the local economy. In fact, it is just the opposite. Shellfish aquaculture is a huge economic engine for Northampton County. When developing rules, regulations or ordinances, great consideration and care must be taken to ensure that the shellfish aquaculture industry continues to be the vital revenue source for the local economy.

Thank you for this opportunity to provide factual information regarding the importance of the shellfish aquaculture industry to the local economy of Northampton County. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of additional assistance in your understanding of shellfish aquaculture.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Oesterling
Executive Director

By: Jim Welch

Jim Welch — Sat, 13 Dec 2014 15:10:01 +0000

This is all about making money by whatever means possible. It has nothing to do with administering the will of the people, who elected these politicians, to administer their desire and concern for the county and to use common business skill, which they haven’t proven they possess, to spend hard earned tax dollars properly. There are some people involved that don’t have much money, wanting to make money on commissions, and there are those that have substantial funding at their fingertips but want to own the county and beyond. What’s transpiring in Northampton County is a reflection of how the Commonwealth is run; how the Commonwealth of Virginia is run is a reflection of how the US government is run. There are solutions to any problem, but first the people need to truly understand what’s transpiring in the world around them, and then, importantly, want to change it for the better.

The Northampton County problem is interesting because it’s only one county in the Commonwealth. Consider: both the Governor and Lt. Governor are supposed to be concerned about the environment? If they can’t or don’t make a phone call to stop these thieves of the people’s tax dollars and trust, which became very obvious at this last meeting, well, then things become a bit clearer. There is no way the BOS can do what they’re doing if the Governor and Lt. Governor don’t allow them to proceed. There is a consensus of “closed door” agreement in full operation; the only question is, how high does it go?

The December 18 Chamber of Commerce’s Eggs and Issues event would be an excellent opportunity to present to our elected officials the overwhelming concern about the Northampton County situation: http://www.esvachamber.org/eggs-and-issues.html

By: Patricia Lilliston

Patricia Lilliston — Sat, 13 Dec 2014 02:13:01 +0000

Still no good explanation about why a Virginia Beach real estate broker comes here, fights to get everybody’s zoning changed and turns herself into the poster child for this destructive county rezoning scheme. Maybe she’s a real estate money investment adviser looking for new fields to plow? Or maybe she just bought some property here and doesn’t like the way it’s zoned? Still no good explanation about why she came here and wants to wreck my zoning.

By: Colin Cowling

Colin Cowling — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 17:04:30 +0000

The current zoning ordinance was passed by the then six member Board of Supervisors with a vote of 5 to 1. Of those six members only one remains on the current five member board. He is the one who voted against it.
Included in the crowd at the meeting on Tuesday of approximately 125 people I only saw two who are members of our African American community and two I believe are members of our Hispanic community.
On the several occasions over the years I have seen far larger crowds pack the courthouse on zoning issues.
Mr Ford made numerous mistatements of fact before the Accomac Board of Supervisors that were so egregious he had to write an apology.
Mrs. Kellam is a New York lawyer formerly employed by the Nature Conservancy.
The current zoning ordinance was in fact largely written by a Northern Virginia law firm.
The state of Virginia projects a continuing decline in the population of Northampton County
These facts seem to be ignored by those opposing zoning change but you can bet it has been duly noted by the Board of Supervisors.
And for the record; I actively opposed the current zoning ordinance nor do I support the amendments as currently written.

By: Donna Bozza

Donna Bozza — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 14:44:52 +0000

Thank you Debbie for including the VDOT study. Route 13 corridor issues were at the forefront of the formation of the zoning that Northampton currently operates under. I agree it seems to be virtually ignored in the proposed zoning. Once our main artery is over-developed, there is no going back. Another way smart growth points to limited development on 13, with growth concentrated in the towns.

By: Deborah Bender

Deborah Bender — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 01:34:20 +0000

Taken from the recent VDOT traffic safety report :Strategy: Improve safety and mobility along U.S. 13 through land use planning by discouraging development directly along the corridor, especially strip development. As the Eastern Shore Corridor on the Eastern Shore becomes more developed, there is a call by both counties to discourage strip development or even discourage development altogether directly along the corridor. Discouraging strip development and encouraging more clustered commercial and industrial development is important to avoid future access management issues, such as multiple driveways and median crossovers along the roadway. As this is the only major north-south corridor through this region of Virginia, this roadway needs to remain viable for through traffic and for tourist traffic. Safety should not be compromised along U.S. 13, and capacity should be compromised as little as possible to keep traffic moving.

Here is a link to the full report:http://www.vtrans.org/resources/eastern_shore_corridor_u.s._13.pdf

Seems like VDOT doesn’t want any development along the highway but I am sure Katie Nunez and the BOS will try to walk all over VDOT too.

If I can help in any way with the recall please make contact.

By: Jim Welch

Jim Welch — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 22:34:30 +0000

First, I’d like to thank the Wave for its excellent coverage of this event. The venue you provide the Shore citizens is critically important. The free flow of information on this zoning issue not only allows us all to express our outrage and concern, but provides a platform for the citizens to develop strategy and solutions to this multifaceted problem. The antithesis of the Board of Supervisors actions.

After the recent Northampton County Board of Supervisors meeting and preceding resistance rally at the Court House, well-attended by over 150 very concerned, verbally concise, expressive taxpaying citizens, it’s very clear that the Board, with one exception, Mr. Granville Hogg, does not represent the majority of the citizens in this county. It’s also very clear that they are motivated solely by and represent a select few special interest groups of developers, Realtors, engineering and construction businesses. These people, including County Administrator Katie Nunez, and strangely absent, highly paid County Economic Development Director Charles McSwain, have shown themselves to be incompetent, wasteful, and unresponsive to the public. It’s actually quite amazing to behold their official behavior.

It’s very clear in the minds of a growing citizenry that they need to be replaced, now. A Recall Election is the most direct means. The longer these individuals rule over the decision making process and the purse strings of this county, the deeper into debt the county will slide, and the more difficult it will be to pull out from the growing debt burden. These individuals have no successful track record of efficiency or of past successful projects; quite the opposite in fact. They sit in their seats of power because they were elected to their positions and/or appointed. It is time to reverse that process so that progress in Northampton County can be made in our time of economic scarcity, dishonesty in government, and continuing flagrant violations of US Constitutional intention and the people’s mandate.

By: Donna Bozza

Donna Bozza — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 20:39:35 +0000

Thank you again Cape Charles Wave for your comprehensive and informative coverage of this pressing issue. Zoning impacts every citizen in our county now and for generations. Its creation needs to be an open process that includes the very people it will affect, and the proposed ordinance must be backed by reliable data. This is not the case with Northampton County's Proposed Zoning.

By: Katherine Campbell

Katherine Campbell — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 20:32:10 +0000

Yes as you say, I am a real estate agent, but it’s a small part of who I am. My other interests are in the outdoors. We are raising 5,000 oysters in Mattawoman Creek. My gardens are planted to support pollinators in all stages of their lifespan. When I did waterfront improvements in Virginia Beach, I exceeded CBPA [Chesapeake Bay Protection Act] requirements, before the CBPA was even enacted, because I didn’t like the way Linkhorn Bay was being bulkheaded into a giant swimming pool. My garden club worked relentlessly and we raised $200K to provide exhibits for the Welcome Center at First Landing State Park, where children from all over Virginia can experience and learn about the natural world. As a real estate agent, if I depended on working with developers for my livelihood, I’d be like the Maytag repairman. You can be in favor of the BOS rezoning process to promote smart growth and not be for over-development. Yet not all development is bad. If it weren’t for developers we would all have to grow our food because there wouldn’t be a Food Lion. My support for the proposed ordinance is about jobs. I work with businesses to find locations. This year I worked with someone looking to open a business on Route 13 at Parsons Circle. They were okay with the cost of digging a well. They were okay with the cost of putting in septic. These are expenses they didn’t expect. But when the restrictive zoning required that they purchase 3.5 acres instead of one acre, they said they couldn’t keep adding onto the cost. They determined that ‘the risk was too great in a county where the population was shrinking, and the demographics were bad, the second poorest in the Commonwealth. They walked away and are looking at locations further north. I’m not sad about losing the deal — it was a small fee. I am sad that county zoning prevented eight to ten jobs from being created for NH County residents who can’t find a job in aquaculture, on a farm, or in tourism. The supervisors took a lot of flak Tuesday night about aspects of the proposed zoning ordinance that they’ve already removed during their work sessions, with people shouting at them for something that is already off the table. They are being accused of not listening, but clearly they are listening. I believe that at the end of the day, the final version will satisfy the concerns being voiced, since their progress so far shows it is already being incorporated. Good people can disagree without acrimony. It would be wonderful if we could express our concerns to them without rancor and ridicule, and in that respect we can take a civics lesson from student Hannah DeMarino who expressed her concerns and request eloquently.

By: Jean Flynn

Jean Flynn — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 17:48:09 +0000

A reminder to the Board of Supervisors of Northampton County, VA, in case you’ve forgotten you represent your constituents:

“The power under the Constitution will always be in the people. It is entrusted for certain defined purposes, and for a certain limited period, to representatives of their own choosing; and whenever it is executed contrary to their interests, or not agreeable to their wishes, their servants can, and undoubtedly will be recalled.”
-George Washington